Olympic wrap-up: Finland and Slovakia make history; Slafkovsky takes hockey world by storm

The 2022 Winter Olympics have official come to a close on Sunday morning, but the memories for the athletes will last a lifetime.

If we go back to the beginning of December, before COVID-19 took a stranglehold on the National Hockey League, fans were expecting to see the first best-on-best international event since the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. Unfortunately, that didn't happen, but we were treated to some exciting hockey over the last eleven days.

To say this tournament was wide open is an understatement. Denmark, who qualified for their first-ever Olympics last summer, finished second in their group ahead of the Czech Republic and Switzerland. Denmark would go on defeat Latvia in the qualification playoff round before bowing out in the quarter-finals at the hands of the Russian Olympic Committee.

After shocking the hockey world and winning silver at Pyeongchang 2018, Germany had a disappointing tournament. They finished third in their group and then were shutout in the qualification playoff round against the eventual bronze medalists, Slovakia.

Speaking of Slovakia, what a story they were. The ninth ranked nation by the International Ice Hockey Federation, they had to play for a spot at Beijing 2022 in a qualifying tournament in August 2021. They finished that tournament 3-0 with wins over Austria, Poland and Belarus.

Slovakia finished third in their group with a 1-0-0-2 record and as mentioned, defeated Germany in the qualification playoff round. They then advanced to the quarter-finals where they took on the top seeded Americans. With less than minute remaining in that game, Marek Hrivik scored the tying goal to force overtime. Overtime solved nothing, so the teams headed to a shootout, where goaltender Patrik Rybar stopped all five of the United States' shots to lead his nation to a massive upset win.

In the semi-finals, Slovakia would go on to lose by a score of 2-0. Their hopes at winning the gold medal were gone, but they still had their sights on leaving Beijing with a medal. In the bronze medal game, Patrik Rybar stood tall once again, making 28 saves for the shutout as Slovakia won their first Olympic medal as an independent nation.

We can't talk about Slovakia without mentioning teenage sensation, Juraj Slafkovsky, who took the hockey world by storm. In seven games, Slafkovsky, the number two ranked international skater by NHL central scouting, put up seven goals to lead the tournament.

For his efforts, Slafkovsky was named Most Valuable Player and to the tournament all-star team.

That brings us to the gold medal game, Finland against the Russian Olympic Committee. ROC took a 1-0 lead in the first period after a goal from former Buffalo Sabres first round pick Mikhail Grigorenko. That was all ROC could manage to get back Finnish netminder Harri Sateri as his team could go on to score twice through Ville Pokka and Hannes Bjorninen.

Finland would hold onto that 2-1 lead and for the remainder of the third period as they would go on to win their first Olympic gold medal in their 94-year history.

Before I wrap up, let's take a look at the nations I thought exceeded expectations, the ones that were quite underwhelming, as well as the tournament all-star team.

Exceeded expectations: Slovakia, Denmark.
Underwhelming: Czech Republic, Switzerland, Canada.

Tournament All-Star Team
Goalie: Patrik Rybar (Slovakia)
Defence: Mikko Lehtonen (Finland), Yegor Yakovlev (Russian Olympic Committee)
Forwards: Juraj Slafkovsky (Slovakia), Sakari Manninen (Finland), Lucas Wallmark (Sweden)

Next up on the international calendar is the 2022 IIHF World Hockey Championship in May in Finland. As for the next Winter Olympics, they'll be hosted Milano-Cortina (Italy) and the expectation is that NHL players will be there, as it says in the CBA that was ratified in the summer of 2020.

MUST READ

1 hour ago  |  By Tom Banks Angry John Tortorella Calls Out One Flyers Player: Trade is Likely Per Elliotte Friedman

2 hours ago  |  By Tom Banks Quinn Hughes Ejected: Suspension May be Coming for the Reigning Norris Winner

3 hours ago  |  By Tom Banks Matvei Michkov Stuns With Crazy Quote in Post-Game Interview Following OT Winner

5 hours ago  |  By Tom Banks Jeremy Swayman on the Verge of Losing the Starting Role in Boston: His Contract Looks Like a Disaster

8 hours ago  |  By TJ Tucker Detroit Red Wings Place Massive Six-Foot-Six Forward on Waivers

10 hours ago  |  By Graham Montgomery Connor Bedard's Struggles Prove Chicago Blackhawks are in Dire Need of a Coaching Change

11 hours ago  |  By Graham Montgomery NHL Analyst Believes Toronto Maple Leafs are Exploring Possible Reunion With Nazem Kadri

12 hours ago  |  By Graham Montgomery 800-Game NHL Veteran Nick Bonino Signs an Unexpected New Professional Contract

MORE STORIES